RHS Show 2008

The Freemasons of Cheshire present their Masonic Garden

'ON THE SQUARE'

At the RHS Flower Show

Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire.

The Provincial Grand Lodge of  Cheshire Freemasons
Present Their Masonic Garden
‘On The Square’

A mysterious garden, veiled in allegory, depicting a symbolic representation of
Freemasonry in Cheshire today

Last time, at the Royal Horticultural Society Flower Show,
the Freemasons of Cheshire came out of their Lodges and into the garden.

This year they throw a little light on what they do with the Masonic Garden, entitled ‘On the Square’. This Garden has been specifically created to show the ‘so called secrets of Freemasonry’, which have traditionally been deeply veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.

Such are just some of the ‘secrets’ of Freemasonry, whose teaching extends the Mason’s researches into the hidden mysteries of Nature and Science.

Charity plays a very important role in our Ancient and Honourable Order. Freemasons nationally, after the National Lottery, are the largest donors to charity

in the United Kingdom. Charity is the distinguishing characteristic  of a Mason’s heart and every new Freemason is taught: ‘Charity, like its Sister Mercy, blesses him who gives as well as him who receives.’

The black and white pavement represents the light and dark, the joy and sorrow of our chequered existence as we journey through life.  The three large pillars which dominate the garden are of the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian Orders and represent Wisdom, Strength and Beauty.
The garden also has a waterfall or a ‘fall of water’, which also features in Masonic history.

It is the symbolic expression of a deeper meaning of Freemasonry, through colours, plants, shrubs, trees, a waterfall and three great pillars representing Wisdom, Strength and Beauty.
Many of the features depicted in our Masonic garden embody aspects of our long and distinguished Masonic heritage, dating back from before the formation of The Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire in 1725

The Freemasons of Tatton Park
Freemasonry at Tatton Park, has a long and distinguished history. Numbered amongst the many Provincial Grand Masters of Cheshire, are Rt. Hon Lord Egerton of Tatton, who was
installed in 1883 as the tenth Provincial Grand Master. The Hon. Alan De Tatton Egerton M.P. was installed as the eleventh Provincial Grand Master of  Cheshire in 1900.

After the Show
Visitors often wonder what happens to the gardens when the show is over.
The Freemasons of Cheshire will rebuild this garden in a
peaceful corner within the grounds of The East Cheshire Hospice, in Macclesfield.

RHS Show 2006 

The Masonic Garden - The Spirit of Freemasonry
Entitled "The Spirit of Freemasonry" The Freemasons of Cheshire Masonic Garden at the Royal Horticultural Show at Tatton Park Cheshire in July 2006 was a resounding success.

Designer, W. Bro Peter Kinder, a member of The Duke of Connaught Lodge, described it as follows:

"The garden depicts the journey of man, from a rough stone to perfection, whilst travelling a path of good and evil, joy and sadness, right and wrong. The good and evil of the world we live in is represented by a black and white tiled path, which passes alongside an ever-present danger of water, contrasted with verdant pasture representing peace. The journey carries on until the traveller reaches his final resting place, a triangular seat symbolising the three basic principals of the organisation, namely faith, hope and charity. The garden's sundial, with square and compasses (the universal symbol of freemasonry), depicts the passage of time, over which we have no control".

The Freemasons of Cheshire were keen to show that they are as much a part of the Community as any other organisation.  Peter Carroll, The Provincial Grand Secretary for Cheshire said:

"Over eighty thousand of the visitors to the Royal Horticultural Show came to see our garden this year. We hope we have demonstrated to the public that Freemasons are friendly, approachable and willing to help the wider Cheshire Community. We have donated our Garden to the Hospice of the Good Shepherd, where we know visitors and those who attend the Hospice will enjoy its beauty for many years to come. This is another step towards dispelling the myths and explaining to the residents of Cheshire that the Freemasons are open and have the needs of the Communty at heart"